Only thing I'd add is that what you describe sounds a lot to me like Wicca. FYI for you (and I say this because of a similar experience decades ago that caught me off guard) there are likely a lot more people around you who practice Wicca than you might expect.
Not saying everyone you know is doing it either, but I was surprised to find I had 3 people in unrelated friend groups who considered themselves practicing Wiccans - and 2 of them were in their 40s.
I share this only as more context for you, and also if this is what your friend has discovered you can get a little more info about what it entails.
geoffervescent